2 Maccabees 11

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Almost immediately afterwards, Lysias, the king's tutor and cousin, chief minister of the realm, muchdisturbed at the turn of events,	1 But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.
2 mustered about eighty thousand foot soldiers and his entire cavalry and advanced against the Jews,intending to make the city a place for Greeks to live in,	2 But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.
3 to levy a tax on the Temple as on other national shrines, and to put the office of high priest up for saleevery year;	3 And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the leaves of proposition.
4 he took no account at al of the power of God, being sublimely confident in his tens of thousands ofinfantrymen, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.	4 And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.
5 Invading Judaea, he approached Beth-Zur, a fortified position about twenty miles from Jerusalem, andbegan to subject it to strong pressure.	5 Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.
6 When Maccabaeus and his men learned that Lysias was besieging the fortresses, they and thepopulace with them begged the Lord with lamentation and tears to send a good angel to save Israel.	6 And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.
7 Maccabaeus himself was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the rest to risk their lives withhim in support of their brothers; so they sal ied out resolutely, as one man.	7 Therefore they now, carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.
8 They were stil near Jerusalem when a rider attired in white appeared at their head, brandishinggolden weapons.	8 And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.
9 With one accord they al blessed the God of mercy, and found themselves filled with such couragethat they were ready to lay low not men only but the fiercest beasts and wal s of iron.	9 And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.
10 They advanced in battle order with the aid of their celestial al y, the Lord having had mercy on them.	10 But now we will relate the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.
11 Charging like lions on the enemy, they laid low eleven thousand of the infantry and sixteen hundredhorsemen, and routed al the rest.	11 For when he was come to the crown. he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.
12 Of those, the majority got away, wounded and weaponless. Lysias himself escaped only byignominious flight.	12 For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.
13 Now Lysias was not lacking in intel igence and, as he reflected on the reverse he had just suffered,he realised that the Hebrews were invincible because the mighty God fought for them. He therefore sent them adelegation	13 But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.
14 to persuade them to accept reasonable terms al round, and promised to compel the king to becometheir friend.	14 But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.
15 Maccabaeus, thinking only of the common good, agreed to all that Lysias proposed, and whateverMaccabaeus submitted to Lysias in writing concerning the Jews was granted by the king.	15 And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.
16 Here is the text of the letter Lysias wrote to the Jews: 'Lysias to the Jewish people, greetings.	16 Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:
17 'John and Absalom, your envoys, have delivered to me the communication transcribed below,requesting me to approve its provisions.	17 And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.
18 Anything requiring the king's attention I have put before him; whatever was possible, I have granted.	18 And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,
19 Provided you maintain your goodwil towards the interests of the State, I shal do my best in thefuture to promote your well-being.	19 Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.
20 As regards the details, I have given orders for your envoys and my own officials to discuss thesewith you.	20 Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded For the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.
21 May you prosper. 'The twenty-fourth day of Dioscorus, in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	21 But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.
22 The king's letter ran as follows: 'King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greetings.	22 So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.
23 'Now that our father has taken his place among the gods, our wil is that the subjects of the realm beleft undisturbed to attend to their own affairs.	23 And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.
24 We understand that the Jews do not approve our father's policy, the adoption of Greek customs, butprefer their own way of life and ask to be allowed to observe their own laws.	24 But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.
25 Accordingly, since we intend this people to be free from vexation like any other, our ruling is that theTemple be restored to them and that they conduct their affairs according to the customs of their ancestors.	25 But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,
26 'It wil therefore be your concern to send them a mission of friendship, so that on learning our policythey may have confidence and happily go about their business.'	26 And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.
27 The king's letter to the Jewish nation was in these terms: 'King Antiochus to the Jewish Senate andthe rest of the Jews, greetings.	27 And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.
28 'If you are well, that is as we would wish; we ourselves are in good health.	28 But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety o victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.
29 'Menelaus informs us that you wish to return home and attend to your own affairs.	29 But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:
30 Accordingly, al those who return before the thirtieth day of Xanthicus may rest assured that theyhave nothing to fear.	30 Two of whom took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.
31 The Jews may make use of their own kind of food and their own laws as formerly, and none of themis to be molested in any way for any unwitting offences.	31 And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.
32 I am in fact sending Menelaus to set your minds at rest.	32 But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.
33 Farewel . 'The fifteenth day of Xanthicus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	33 Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.
34 The Romans also sent the Jews a letter, which read as follows: 'Quintus Memmius, Titus Manilius,Manius Sergius, legates of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greetings.	34 But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.
35 'Whatever Lysias, the king's Cousin, has granted you we also approve.	35 But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.
36 As for the matters he decided to refer to the king, consider them careful y and send someone withoutdelay, if we are to interpret them to your advantage, because we are leaving for Antioch.	36 Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set Are to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.
37 Lose no time, therefore, in sending us those who can tel us what your intentions are.	37 And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.
38 Farewel . 'The fifteenth day of Dioscorus in the year one hundred and forty-eight.'	38 And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.